Streptococcal C5a peptidase vaccine

ABSTRACT

Novel vaccines for use against β-hemolytic  Streptococcus  colonization or infection are disclosed. The vaccines contain an immunogenic amount of a variant of streptococcal C5a peptidase (SCP). Also disclosed is a method of protecting a susceptible mammal against β-hemolytic  Streptococcus  colonization or infection by administering such a vaccine. Enzymatically inactive SCP, and polynucleotides encoding these SCP proteins are further disclosed.

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/870,122, filed May 30, 2001 which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,951,653: which is a continuation of International Patent Application No. PCT/US99/28826, filed Dec. 3, 1999 and published in English on Jun. 15, 2000 as WO 00/34487; which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/206,898, filed Dec. 7, 1998 and issed as U.S. Pat. No. 6,355,255; which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/589,756 filed Jan. 22, 1996 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,846,547. All of these applications and publication are incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are several different β-hemolytic streptococcal species that have been identified. Streptococcus pyogenes, also called group A streptococci, is a common bacterial pathogen of humans. Primarily a disease of children, it causes a variety of infections including pharyngitis, impetigo and sepsis in humans. Subsequent to infection, autoimmune complications such as rheumatic fever and acute glomerulonephritis can occur in humans. This pathogen also causes severe acute diseases such as scarlet fever, necrotizing fasciitis and toxic shock.

Sore throat caused by group A streptococci, commonly called “strep throat,” accounts for at least 16% of all office calls in a general medical practice, depending on the season. Hope-Simpson, E., “Streptococcus pyogenes in the throat: A study in a small population, 1962-1975,” J. Hyg. Camb., 87: 109-129 (1981). This species is also the cause of the recent resurgence in North America and four other continents of toxic shock associated with necrotizing fasciitis. Stevens, D. L., “Invasive group A streptococcus infections,” Clin. Infect. Dis., 14: 2-13 (1992). Also implicated in causing strep throat and occasionally in causing toxic shock are groups C and G streptococci. Hope-Simpson, E., “Streptococcus pyogenes in the throat: A study in a small population, 1962-1975,” J. Hyg. Camb., 87: 109-129 (1981).

Group B streptococci, also known as Streptococcus agalactiae, are responsible for neonatal sepsis and meningitis. T. R. Martin et al., “The effect of type-specific polysaccharide capsule on the clearance of group B streptococci from the lung of infant and adult rats”, J. Infect Dis., 165: 306-314 (1992). Although frequently a member of vaginal mucosal flora of adult females, from 0.1 to 0.5/1000 newborns develop serious disease following infection during delivery. In spite of the high mortality from group B streptococcal infections, mechanisms of the pathogenicity are poorly understood. Martin, T. R., et al., “The effect of type-specific polysaccharide capsule on the clearance of Group B streptococci from the lung of infant and adult rats,” J. Infect. Dis., 165: 306-314 (1992).

Streptococcal infections are currently treated by antibiotic therapy. However, 25-30% of those treated have recurrent disease and/or shed the organism in mucosal secretions. At present no means is available to prevent streptococcal infections. Historically, streptococcal vaccine development has focused on the bacterium's cell surface M protein. Bessen, D., et al., “Influence of intranasal immunization with synthetic peptides corresponding to conserved epitopes of M protein on mucosal colonization by group A streptococci,” Infect. Immun., 56: 2666-2672 (1988); Bronze, M. S., et al., “Protective immunity evoked by locally administered group A streptococcal vaccines in mice,” Journal of Immunology, 141: 2767-2770 (1988).

Two major problems will limit the use, marketing, and possibly FDA approval, of an M protein vaccine. First, more than 80 different M serotypes of S. pyogenes exist and new serotypes continually arise. Fischetti, V. A., “Streptococcal M protein: molecular design and biological behavior, Clin. Microbiol. Rev., 2: 285-314 (1989). Thus, inoculation with one serotype-specific M protein will not likely be effective in protecting against other M serotypes. The second problem relates to the safety of an M protein vaccine. Several regions of the M protein contain antigenic epitopes which are immunologically cross-reactive with human tissue, particularly heart tissue. The N-termini of M proteins are highly variable in sequence and antigenic specificity. Inclusion of more than 80 different peptides, representing this variable sequence, in a vaccine would be required to achieve broad protection against group A streptococcal infection. New variant M proteins would still continue to arise, requiring ongoing surveillance of streptococcal disease and changes in the vaccine composition. In contrast, the carboxyl-termini of M proteins are conserved in sequence. This region of the M protein, however, contains an amino acid sequence which is immunologically cross-reactive with human heart tissue. This property of M protein is thought to account for heart valve damage associated with rheumatic fever. P. Fenderson et al., “Tropomyosinsharies immunologic epitopes with group A streptococcal M proteins, J. Immunol. 142: 2475-2481 (1989). In an early trial, children who were vaccinated with M protein in 1979 had a ten fold higher incidence of rheumatic fever and associated heart valve damage. Massell, B. F., et al., “Rheumatic fever following streptococcal vaccination, JAMA, 207: 1115-1119 (1969).

Other proteins under consideration for vaccine development are the erythrogenic toxins, streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin A and streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin B. Lee, P. K., et al., “Quantification and toxicity of group A streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxins in an animal model of toxic shock syndrome-like illness,” J. Clin. Microb., 27: 1890-1892 (1989). Immunity to these proteins could prevent the deadly symptoms of toxic shock,but may not prevent colonization by streptococci.

Thus, there remains a continuing need for an effective means to prevent or ameliorate streptococcal infections. More specifically, a need exists to develop compositions useful in vaccines to prevent or ameliorate colonization of host tissues by streptococci, thereby reducing the incidence of strep throat and impetigo. Elimination of sequelae such as rheumatic fever, acute glomerulonephritis, sepsis, toxic shock and necrotizing fasciitis would be a direct consequence of reducing the incidence of acute infection and carriage of the organism. A need also exists to develop compositions useful in vaccines to prevent or ameliorate infections caused by all β-hemolytic streptococcal species, namely groups A, B, C and G.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a vaccine, and methods of vaccination, effective to immunize a susceptible mammal against β-hemolytic Streptococcus. The susceptible mammal could be a human or a domestic animal such as a dog, a cow, a pig or a horse. Such immunization could prevent, ameliorate or reduce the incidence of β-hemolytic Streptococcus colonization in the mammal. The vaccine contains an immunogenic amount of streptococcal C5a peptidase (SCP), wherein the SCP is a variant of wild-type SCP in combination with a physiologically-acceptable, non-toxic vehicle.

A “variant” of SCP is a polypeptide or oligopeptide SCP that is not completely identical to native SCP. Such a variant SCP can be obtained by altering the amino acid sequence by insertion, deletion or substitution of one or more amino acid. The amino acid sequence of the protein is modified, for example by substitution, to create a polypeptide having substantially the same or improved qualities as compared to the native polypeptide. The substitution may be a conserved substitution. A “conserved substitution” is a substitution of an amino acid with another amino acid having a similar side chain. A conserved substitution would be a substitution with an amino acid that makes the smallest change possible in the charge of the amino acid or size of the side chain of the amino acid (alternatively, in the size, charge or kind of chemical group within the side chain) such that the overall peptide retains its spacial conformation but has altered biological activity. For example, common conserved changes might be Asp to Glu, Asn or Gln; His to Lys, Arg or Phe; Asn to Gln, Asp or Glu and Ser to Cys, Thr or Gly. Alanine is commonly used to substitute for other amino acids. The 20 essential amino acids can be grouped as follows: alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, proline, phenylalanine, tryptophan and methionine having nonpolar side chains; glycine, serine, threonine, cystine, tyrosine, asparagine and glutamine having uncharged polar side chains; aspartate and glutamate having acidic side chains; and lysine, arginine, and histidine having basic side chains. L. Stryer, Biochemistry (2d ed.) p. 14-15; Lehninger, Biochemistry, p. 73-75.

The amino acid changes are achieved by changing the codons of the corresponding nucleic acid sequence. It is known that such polypeptides can be obtained based on substituting certain amino acids for other amino acids in the polypeptide structure in order to modify or improve antigenic or immunogenic activity. For example, through substitution of alternative amino acids, small conformational changes may be conferred upon a polypeptide which result in increased activity or enhanced immune response. Alternatively, amino acid substitutions in certain polypeptides may be used to provide residues which may then be linked to other molecules to provide peptide-molecule conjugates which retain sufficient antigenic properties of the starting polypeptide to be useful for other purposes.

One can use the hydropathic index of amino acids in conferring interactive biological function on a polypeptide, wherein it is found that certain amino acids may be substituted for other amino acids having similar hydropathic indices and still retain a similar biological activity. Alternatively, substitution of like amino acids may be made on the basis of hydrophilicity, particularly where the biological function desired in the polypeptide to be generated in intended for use in immunological embodiments. The greatest local average hydrophilicity of a “protein”, as governed by the hydrophilicity of its adjacent amino acids, correlates with its immunogenicity. U.S. Pat. No. 4,554,101. Accordingly, it is noted that substitutions can be made based on the hydrophilicity assigned to each amino acid.

In using either the hydrophilicity index or hydropathic index, which assigns values to each amino acid, it is preferred to conduct substitutions of amino acids where these values are ±2, with ±1 being particularly preferred, and those with in ±0.5 being the most preferred substitutions.

The variant SCP comprises at least seven amino acid residues, preferably about 100 to about 1500 residues, and more preferably about 300 to about 1200 residues, and even more preferably about 500 to about 1180 residues, wherein the variant SCP has at least 50%, preferably at least about 80%, and more preferably at least about 90% but less than 100%, contiguous amino acid sequence homology or identity to the amino acid sequence of a corresponding native SCP.

The amino acid sequence of the variant SCP polypeptide corresponds essentially to the native SCP amino acid sequence. As used herein “correspond essentially to” refers to a polypeptide sequence that will elicit a protective immunological response substantially the same as the response generated by native SCP. Such a response may be at least 60% of the level generated by native SCP, and may even be at least 80% of the level generated by native SCP. An immunological response to a composition or vaccine is the development in the host of a cellular and/or antibody-mediated immune response to the polypeptide or vaccine of interest. Usually, such a response consists of the subject producing antibodies, B cell, helper T cells, suppressor T cells, and/or cytotoxic T cells directed specifically to an antigen or antigens included in the composition or vaccine of interest.

The SCP may be a variant of SCP from group A Streptococcus (SCPA), group B Streptococcus (SCPB), group C Streptococcus (SCPC) or group G Streptococcus (SCPG).

A variant of the invention may include amino acid residues not present in the corresponding native SCP or deletions relative to the corresponding native SCP. A variant may also be a truncated “fragment” as compared to the corresponding native SCP, i.e., only a portion of a full-length protein. For example, the variant SCP may vary from native SCP in that it does not contain a cell wall insert. SCP variants also include peptides having at least one D-amino acid.

The variant SCP of the vaccine may be expressed from an isolated DNA sequence encoding the variant SCP. For example, the variant SCP may vary from native SCP in that it does not contain a signal sequence or a cell wall insert. The DNA may encode the specificity crevice or the catalytic domain. In particular the DNA may encode amino acid residue 130, 193, 295 or 512 of the catalytic domain, or amino acid residues 260, 261, 262, 415, 416 or 417 of the specificity crevice, or encode modifications at such residues. In particular, the DNA may encode SCPA49D130A, SCPA49H193A, SCPA49N295A, SCPA49S512A, SCPA1D130A, SCPA1H193A, SCPA1N295A, SCPA1S512A, SCPBD130A, SCPBH193A, SCPBN295A, SCPBS512A or ΔSCPA49.

For the above listing SCPA49H193A means an SCP from group A Streptococci serotype 49, wherein the His at residue number 193 is replaced with Ala. The SCP of the vaccine may lack enzymatic C5ase or peptidase activity. The vaccine may also contain an immunological adjuvant. The vaccine can be used to prevent infection by group A Streptococcus, group B Streptococcus, group C Streptococcus or group G Streptococcus.

The vaccine may comprise an immunogenic recombinant streptococcal C5a peptidase conjugated or linked to an immunogenic peptide or to an immunogenic polysaccharide. “Recombinant” is defined as a peptide or nucleic acid produced by the processes of genetic engineering. The terms “protein,” “peptide” and “polypeptide” are used interchangeably herein.

The streptococcal C5a peptidase vaccine can be administered by subcutaneous or intramuscular injection. Alternatively, the vaccine can be administered by oral ingestion or intranasal inoculation.

The present invention further provides isolated and purified SCP peptides, wherein the SCP is a variant of wild-type SCP and isolated and purified polynucleotides encoding a variant SCP. For example, the SCP may include amino acid residue 130, 193, 295 or 512 of the catalytic domain, or amino acid residues 260, 261, 262, 415, 416 or 417 of the specificity crevice. The SCP may be SCPA49D130A, SCPA49H193A, SCPA49N295A, SCPA49S512A, SCPA1D130A, SCPA1H193A, SCPA1N295A, SCPA1S512A, SCPBD130A, SCPBH193A, SCPBN295A, SCPBS512A or ΔSCPA49.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. Architecture of C5a peptidase from β-hemolytic streptococci. D indicates an aspartic acid residue; H indicates histidine; S indicates serine; L indicates leucine; P indicates proline; T indicates threonine; and N indicates asparagine. R₁, R₂, R₃ and R₄ indicate repeated sequences. The numbers indicate the amino acid residue position in the peptidase.

FIG. 2A-2D. Alignment of the amino acid sequence of SCP from group A streptococci serotype 49 (SEQ ID NO:1), group A streptococci serotype 12 (SEQ ID NO:2), group B streptococci (SEQ ID NO:3) and group A streptococci serotype 1 (SEQ ID NO:23). The sequences are identical except for the indicated amino acid positions.The triangle (Δ) indicates the predicted cleavage point of the signal peptidase. Amino acids predicted to be in the enzyme's active site are marked by asterisks. Deletions in the amino acid sequence are indicated by dots and are boxed. The asterisks (*) indicate theamino acid residues of the catalytic domain.

FIG. 3. Construction of SCP insertion and deletion mutants. Black box indicates deleted region.

FIG. 4. Single color FACS analysis. Fluorescence data were analyzed by gating on PMNs. A second gate was set to count high staining cells defined by the first gate. Air sacs were inoculated with 1×10⁶ CFU.

FIG. 5. Persistence of Wild-type and SCPA⁻ serotype M49 streptococci following intranasal infection.

FIG. 6. Comparison of the ability of SCPA⁻ mutants of serotype M6 Group A streptococcus to colonize mice following intranasal infection. Compares BALB/c mice (ten in each experimental group) inoculated with 2×10⁷ CFU of M6 streptococci. Throat swabs were cultured each day on blood agar plates containing streptomycin. Mice were considered positive if plates contained one β-hemolytic colony. Data were analyzed statistically by the χ² test.

FIG. 7. Construction of ΔSCPA49 vaccine and immunization protocol.

FIG. 8. Rabbit antibody neutralizes SCPA activity associated with different serotypes. Bar 1 is a positive control and contained rhC5a which was not preincubated before exposure to PMNs. Bar 10 is a control which lacks rhC5a. Whole, intact bacteria, preincubated with normal rabbit serum (bar 2, M1 90-131; bar 4, M6 UAB200; bar 6, M12 CS24; bar 8, M49 CS101) or preincubated with rabbit anti-SCPA49 serum (bar 3, M1 90-131; bar 5, M6 UAB200; bar 7, M12 CS24; bar 9, M49 CS101), were incubated with 20 μl of 5 μM rhC5a for 45 minutes. Residual rhC5a was assayed by its capacity to activate PMNs to adhere to BSA-coated microtiter plate wells. Adherent PMNs were stained with crystal violet.

FIG. 9. Serum IgG and secretory IgA responses after intranasal immunization of mice with the purified ΔSCPA49 protein. Serum and saliva levels of SCPA49 specific IgG were determined by indirect ELISA. Sera from each mouse were diluted to 1:2,560 in PBS; saliva was diluted 1:2 in PBS. FIG. 9A shows the sIgA experimental results; FIG. 9B shows the IgG experimental results.

FIG. 10. Comparison of the ability of serotype M49 streptococci to colonize immunized and non-immunized CD1 female mice. Each experimental group contained 13 mice which were infected intranasally (i.n.) with 2.0×10⁸ CFU. The data were analyzed statistically by the χ² test. FIGS. 10A and 10B show the results of the repeated experiment.

FIG. 11. Competitive ELISA Comparison of wild-type and variant SCP binding to polyclonal antibody. Plate antigen is recombinant wild-type SCPA49 (100 ng/well). Competing antigen is indicated by the legend.

FIG. 12. Competitive ELISA Comparison of SCPA1, SCPA49 and SCPB binding to polyclonal antibody. Plate antigen is recombinant wild-type SCPA49 (100 ng/well). Competing antigen is indicated by the legend. SCPA1 and SCPA49 used in the experiments depicted in this Figure comprised Asn³² through His¹¹³⁹. SCPB used in the experiments depicted in this Figure was made according to Chmouryguina, I. et al., “Conservation of the C5a Peptidase Gene in Group A and B Streptococci”, Infect. Immun., 64: 2387-2390 (1996).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An important first line of defense against infection by many bacterial pathogens is the accumulation of phagocytic polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) and mononuclear cells at the site of infection. Attraction of these cells is mediated by chemotactic stimuli, such as host factors or factors secreted by the invading organism. The C5a chemoattractant is pivotal to the stimulation of this inflammatory response in mammals. C5a is a 74 residue glycopeptide cleaved from the fifth component (C5) of complement.

Phagocytic cells respond in a directed manner to a gradient of C5a and accumulate at the site of infection. C5a may be the most immediate attractant of phagocytes during inflammation. As PMNs infiltrate an inflammatory lesion they secrete other chemokines, such as IL8, which further intensify the inflammatory response. Streptococcal C5a peptidase (SCP) is a proteolytic enzyme located on the surface of pathogenic streptococci where it destroys C5a, as C5a is locally produced. SCP specifically cleaves the C5a chemotaxin at the PMN binding site (between His⁶⁷-Lys⁶⁸ residues of C5a) and removes the seven most C-terminal residues of C5a. This cleavage of the PMN binding site eliminates the chemotactic signal. Cleary, P., et al., “Streptococcal C5a peptidase is a highly specific endopeptidase,” Infect. Immun., 60: 5219-5223 (1992); Wexler, D. E., et al., “Mechanism of action of the group A streptococcal C5a inactivator,” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 82: 8144-8148 (1985).

SCP from group A streptococci is a subtilisin-like serine protease with an M_(r) of 124,814 da and with a cell wall anchor motif which is common to many Gram positive bacterial surface proteins. The architecture of C5a peptidase is given in FIG. 1. The complete nucleotide sequence of the streptococcal C5a peptidase gene of Streptococcus pyogenes has been published. Chen, C., and Cleary, P., “Complete nucleotide sequence of the streptococcal C5a peptidase gene of Streptococcus pyogenes,” J. Biol. Chem., 265: 3161-3167 (1990). In contrast to Subtilisins, SCP has a very narrow substrate specificity. This narrow specificity is surprising in light of the marked similarities between their catalytic domains. Cleary, P., et al., “Streptococcal C5a peptidase is a highly specific endopeptidase,” Infect. Immun., 60: 5219-5223 (1992). Residues involved in charge transfer are conserved, as are residues on both sides of the binding pocket. However, the remaining amino acid sequence of SCP is unrelated to that of Subtilisins. More than 40 serotypes of Group A streptococci were found to produce SCP protein or to harbor the gene. Cleary, P., et al., “A streptococcal inactivator of chemotaxis: a new virulence factor specific to group A streptococci,” in Recent Advances in Streptococci and Streptococcal Disease p. 179-180 (S. Kotami and Y. Shiokawa ed.; Reedbooks Ltd., Berkshire, England; 1984); Podbielski, A., et al., “The group A streptococcal virR49 gene controls expression of four structural vir regulon genes,” Infect. Immun., 63: 9-20 (1995).

The catalytic domain or active site of SCP is composed of the charge transfer system and the specificity crevice. The charge transfer system, also called the catalytic domain, contains residues Asp¹³⁰, His¹⁹³, Asn²⁹⁵ and Ser⁵¹² (FIGS. 1 and 2A-2D). A modification, i.e., a deletion, insertion or substitution, of any one of these amino acids will inactivate the enzyme. The specificity crevice, on the other hand, is predicted to be formed by Ser²⁶⁰, Phe²⁶¹, Gly²⁶², Ile⁴¹⁵, Tyr⁴¹⁶ and Asp⁴¹⁷. Modification by substitution of these amino acids could change the substrate specificity of the enzyme or eliminate proteolytic activity altogether. Modification by deletion of these amino acids would also inactivate the enzyme. The catalytic domain depends on the tertiary structure of the protein that is created when the mature enzyme folds into its active state. This domain is not formed from a contiguous linear array of amino acid residues. Alternatively, modification may also reduce binding of variant SCP to the substrate. Binding may be reduced by 50%, 70% or even 80%.

A C5a peptidase enzyme associated with group B streptococci has also been identified. Hill, H. R., et al., “Group B streptococci inhibit the chemotactic activity of the fifth component of complement,” J. Immunol. 141: 3551-3556 (1988). Restriction mapping and completion of the scpB nucleotide sequence showed that scpB is 97-98% similar to scpA. See FIG. 2A-2D for comparison of the amino acid sequence of SCP from group A streptococci serotype 49, group A streptococci serotype 12, group B streptococci and group A streptococci serotype 1 (SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3 and SEQ ID NO:23, respectively). More than 30 strains, representing all serotypes of group B streptococci carry the scpB gene. Cleary P. P., et al. “Similarity between the Group B and A streptococcal C5a Peptidase genes,” Infect. Immun. 60: 4239-4244 (1992); Suvorov A. N., et al., “C5a peptidase gene from group B streptococci,” in Genetics and Molecular Biology of Streptococci, Lactococci and Enterococci p. 230-232 (G. Dunny, P. Cleary and L. McKay (ed.); American Society for Microbiology, Washington, D.C.; 1991).

Human isolates of groups G and C streptococci also harbor scpA-like genes. Some group G strains were shown to express C5a specific protease activity on their surface. Cleary, P. P., et al., “Virulent human strains of group G streptococci express a C5a peptidase enzyme similar to that produced by group A streptococci,” Infect. Immun., 59: 2305-2310 (1991). Therefore, all serotypes (>80) of group A streptococci, group B streptococci, group C streptococci and group G streptococci produce the SCP enzyme.

SCP assists streptococci to colonize a potential infection site, such as the nasopharyngeal mucosa, by inhibiting the influx of phagocytic white cells to the site of infection. This impedes the initial clearance of the streptococci by the host. The impact of SCP on inflammation, C5a leukocyte chemotaxis and streptococcal virulence was examined using streptococcal strains with well-defined mutations in the protease structural gene. SCP variants were constructed by targeted plasmid insertion and by replacement of the wild-type gene with scpA containing a specific internal deletion. Variants lacked C5a protease activity and did not inhibit the chemotactic response of human or mouse PMNs to C5a in vitro.

A mouse connective tissue air sac model was used to confirm that SCP retards the influx of phagocytic cells and clearance of streptococci from the site of infection. A connective tissue air sac is generated by injecting a small amount of air and PBS (with or without streptococci in it) with a 25-gauge needle under the skin on the back of a mouse. Boyle, M. D. P. et al., “Measurement of leukocyte chemotaxis in vivo,” Meth. Enzymol., 162: 101:115 (1988). At the end of the experiment, the mice were euthanized by cervical dislocation, the air sacs dissected from the animals, and the air sacs homogenized in buffer. An advantage of the air sac model is that the air sac remains inflated for several days and free of inflammation, unless an irritant is injected. Thus, injected bacteria and the resulting inflammatory response remains localized over short periods of infection.

The air sac model was modified to compare clearance of wild-type SCP⁺ and SCP⁻ streptococci (i.e., group A streptococci which carried a variant non-functional form of SCP), and to analyze the cellular infiltrate at an early stage of infection. Tissue suspensions were assayed for viable streptococci on blood agar plates and the cellular infiltrate was analyzed by fluorescent cell sorting (FACS). In FACS analysis, individual cells in suspension are labelled with specific fluorescent monoantibodies. Aliquots of labelled cells are injected into a FAC-Scan flowcytometer, or fluorescent cell sorter, which counts cells based on their unique fluorescence. The experiments using the air sac model indicated that streptococci that were SCP⁺ were more virulent than streptococci that were SCP⁻.

A study was performed to measure production of human antibody, both IgG and IgA, against SCP in human sera and saliva. O'Connor, S P, et al., “The Human Antibody Response to Streptococcal C5a Peptidase,” J. Infect. Dis. 163: 109-16 (1991). Generally, sera and saliva from young, uninfected children lacked antibody SCP. In contrast, most sera and saliva specimens from healthy adults had measurable levels of anti-SCP IgG and SCP-specific secretory IgA (anti-SCP sIgA). Paired acute and convalescent sera from patients with streptococcal pharyngitis possessed significantly higher levels of anti-SCP IgG than did sera from healthy individuals. Sera containing high concentrations of anti-SCP immunoglobulin were capable of neutralizing SCP activity. Detection of this antibody in >90% of the saliva specimens obtained from children who had recently experienced streptococcal pharyngitis demonstrated that children can produce an antibody response.

Even though the human subjects produced IgG and IgA against SCP in response to a natural streptococcal infection, it was not known whether the anti-SCP immunoglobulin provides any protection against infection. Further, it was not known if the SCP protein could act as a vaccine against β-hemolytic streptococcal colonization or infection. First, a study was performed to examine the role of SCP in colonization of the nasopharynx. Following intranasal infection with live group A streptococci, throat cultures were taken daily for up to ten days. Wild-type and isogenic SCP-deficient mutant streptococci were compared for the ability to persist in the throat over this ten day period. As predicted, the SCP-deficient mutant streptococci were cleared from the nasopharynx more rapidly.

The same intranasal mouse model was used to test the capacity of SCP to induce immunity that will prevent colonization. A variant form of the recombinant scpA49 gene beginning at the nucleotide that encodes Thr⁶³ was cloned. This variant is referred to as ΔSCPA49, and is 2908 bp in length (see Example 4 below). Variant SCP protein was purified from an E. coli recombinant by affinity chromatography. Sera from rabbits vaccinated intradermally with this protein preparation neutralized SCP activity in vitro. Purified protein (40 μg) was administered intranasally to mice over a period of five weeks. Immunized mice cleared streptococci in 1-2 days; whereas, throat cultures of non-immunized mice remained positive for up to 10 days. The experiment was repeated on three sets of mice, vaccinated with three separate preparations of a SCP protein.

Further experiments were performed to determine whether immunization of an animal with a single antigen would prevent colonization by several serotypes. ΔSCPA49 was cloned into an expression vector and expressed in E. coli. The affinity purified variant ΔSCPA49 protein proved to be highly immunogenic in mice and rabbits.

Although the purified variant ΔSCPA49 immunogen lacked enzymatic activity, it induced high titers of rabbit antibodies that were able to neutralize peptidase activity associated with M1, M6, M12 and M49 streptococci in vitro. This confirmed that anti-peptidase antibodies lack serotype specificity. Four sets of mice were then intranasally immunized with the purified variant ΔSCPA49 and each was challenged with a different serotype of group A streptococcus. The immunization of mice with ΔSCPA49 protein stimulated significant levels of specific salivary sIgA and serum IgG antibodies and reduced the potential of wild-type M1, M2, M6, M11 and M49 streptococci to colonize. These experiments confirm that immunization with streptococcal C5a peptidase vaccine is effective in preventing the colonization of the nasopharynx.

Experiments were also performed to develop variant SCPs from an M1 OF⁻ strain and from the M49 OF⁺ strain. Since active SCP could be harmful to the host, it was important that the variant proteins lacked enzymatic activity. Amino acids that are required for catalytic activity were replaced with those expected to inactivate the enzyme.

Two properties of the variant proteins were evaluated. First, the specific activities of the wild-type and variant proteins were determined by PMN adherence assay. These experiments indicated that the substituted amino acids reduced enzymatic activity by greater than 90%. Second, the variant proteins were also compared to the wild-type protein for their capacity to bind antibody directed against the wild-type enzyme. Competitive ELISA assays were used for this purpose. The results indicated that the amino acid substitutions did not alter the ability of antibody to bind to the variant proteins.

All earlier protection studies had been performed by administering affinity purified ΔSCPA49 protein intranasally without adjuvant. Intramuscular or subcutaneous (SQ) injection of antigens, however, is historically a preferred, more accepted method of vaccine delivery. Therefore, experiments were performed to test whether SQ injections of ΔSCPA with monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL) and alum (AlPO₄) induced a protective immune response and whether that response reduced colonization when the challenge strain of group A streptococcus differed in serotype from the source of the SCPA vaccine. The capacity of immunized mice to clear streptococci from the oral-nasal pharyngeal mucosa was evaluated by throat culture or by sampling dissected nasal tissue.

The number of streptococci associated with nasal tissue decreased with time, as expected, and the decrease was more rapid and complete in mice immunized with SCPA antigen. The results confirmed that a single SCPA antigen can induce protection against heterologous serotypes. Protection is afforded by antibody that neutralizes peptidase activity on the bacterial surface. This increases the influx of phagocytes within a few hours from the time streptococci are deposited on mucosal tissue. Rapid clearance of streptococci by phagocytes is presumed to prevent subsequent multiplication and persistence of the bacteria. Thus, SQ injection of SCPA antigen with adjuvant consistently induced a vigorous antibody response.

The present invention thus provides a vaccine for use to protect mammals against β-hemolytic Streptococcus colonization or infection. In one embodiment of this invention, as is customary for vaccines, the variant streptococcal C5a peptidase can be delivered to a mammal in a pharmacologically acceptable vehicle. Vaccines of the present invention can also include effective amounts of immunological adjuvants, known to enhance an immune response.

The SCP can be conjugated or linked to another peptide or to a polysaccharide. For example, immunogenic proteins well-known in the art, also known as “carriers,” may be employed. Useful immunogenic proteins include keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), bovine serum albumin (BSA), ovalbumin, human serum albumin, human gamma globulin, chicken immunoglobulin G and bovine gamma globulin. Useful immunogenic polysaccharides include group A Streptococcal polysaccharide, C-polysaccharide from group B Streptococci, or the capsular polysaccharides of Streptococcus pnuemoniae or group B Streptococci. Alternatively, polysaccharides or proteins of other pathogens that are used as vaccines can be conjugated to, linked to, or mixed with SCP. For example, the polysaccharide or protein may be a Streptococcus pnuemoniae protein.

Further provided are isolated and purified nucleic acid molecules, e.g., DNA molecules, comprising a preselected nucleic acid segment which encodes at least a portion of a Streptococcal C5a peptidase, i.e., they encode SCP or a variant thereof as described herein, e.g., SCPA49S512A, SCPA49D130A, SCPA49N295A, SCPA1S512A, SCPA1D130A, SCPA1N295A, ΔSCPA49, SCPBS512A, SCPBD130A, SCPBH193A or SCPBN295A, or any combination of these mutations. For example, the invention provides an expression cassette comprising a preselected DNA segment which codes for an RNA molecule which is substantially identical (sense) to all or a portion of a messenger RNA (“target” mRNA), i.e., an endogenous or “native” SCP mRNA. The preselected DNA segment in the expression cassette is operably linked to a promoter. As used herein, “substantially identical” in sequence means that two nucleic acid sequences have at least about 65%, preferably about 70%, more preferably about 90%, and even more preferably about 98%, contiguous nucleotide sequence identity to each other. Preferably, the preselected DNA segment hybridizes under hybridization conditions, preferably under stringent hybridization conditions, to a nucleic acid molecule encoding the corresponding native SCP.

As used herein, “substantially pure” means an object species is the predominant species present (i.e., on a molar basis it is more abundant than any other individual species in the composition), and preferably a substantially purified fraction is a composition wherein the object species comprises at least about 50 percent (on a molar basis) of all macromolecular species present. Generally, a substantially pure composition will comprise more than about 80 percent of all macromolecular species present in the composition, more preferably more than about 85%, about 90%, about 95%, and about 99%. Most preferably, the object species is purified to essential homogeneity (contaminant species cannot be detected in the composition by conventional detection methods) wherein the composition consists essentially of a single macromolecular species.

As used herein, the term “recombinant nucleic acid” or “preselected nucleic acid,” e.g., “recombinant DNA sequence or segment” or “preselected DNA sequence or segment” refers to a nucleic acid, e.g., to DNA, that has been derived or isolated from any appropriate source, that may be subsequently chemically altered in vitro, so that its sequence is not naturally occurring, or corresponds to naturally occurring sequences that are not positioned as they would be positioned in a genome which has not been transformed with exogenous DNA. An example of preselected DNA “derived” from a source, would be a DNA sequence that is identified as a useful fragment within a given organism, and which is then chemically synthesized in essentially pure form. An example of such DNA “isolated” from a source would be a useful DNA sequence that is excised or removed from said source by chemical means, e.g., by the use of restriction endonucleases, so that it can be further manipulated, e.g., amplified, for use in the invention, by the methodology of genetic engineering.

Recovery or isolation of a given fragment of DNA from a restriction digest can employ separation of the digest on polyacrylamide or agarose gel by electrophoresis, identification of the fragment of interest by comparison of its mobility versus that of marker DNA fragments of known molecular weight, removal of the gel section containing the desired fragment, and separation of the gel from DNA. See Lawn et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 9, 6103 (1981), and Goeddel et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 8, 4057 (1980). Therefore, “preselected DNA” includes completely synthetic DNA sequences, semi-synthetic DNA sequences, DNA sequences isolated from biological sources, and DNA sequences derived from RNA, as well as mixtures thereof.

As used herein, the term “derived” with respect to a RNA molecule means that the RNA molecule has complementary sequence identity to a particular DNA molecule.

Nucleic acid molecules encoding amino acid sequence variants of a SCP are prepared by a variety of methods known in the art. These methods include, but are not limited to, isolation from a natural source (in the case of naturally occurring amino acid sequence variants) or preparation by oligonucleotide-mediated (or site-directed) mutagenesis, PCR mutagenesis, and cassette mutagenesis of an earlier prepared variant or a non-variant version of the SCP.

To immunize a subject, the variant SCP, is administered parenterally, usually by intramuscular or subcutaneous injection in an appropriate vehicle. Other modes of administration, however, such as oral delivery or intranasal delivery, are also acceptable. Vaccine formulations will contain an effective amount of the active ingredient in a vehicle. The effective amount is sufficient to prevent, ameliorate or reduce the incidence of β-hemolytic Streptococcus colonization in the target mammal. The effective amount is readily determined by one skilled in the art. The active ingredient may typically range from about 1% to about 95% (w/w) of the composition, or even higher or lower if appropriate. The quantity to be administered depends upon factors such as the age, weight and physical condition of the animal or the human subject considered for vaccination. The quantity also depends upon the capacity of the animal's immune system to synthesize antibodies, and the degree of protection desired. Effective dosages can be readily established by one of ordinary skill in the art through routine trials establishing dose response curves. The subject is immunized by administration of the SCP in one or more doses. Multiple doses may be administered as is required to maintain a state of immunity to streptococci.

Intranasal formulations may include vehicles that neither cause irritation to the nasal mucosa nor significantly disturb ciliary function. Diluents such as water, aqueous saline or other known substances can be employed with the subject invention. The nasal formulations may also contain preservatives such as, but not limited to, chlorobutanol and benzalkonium chloride. A surfactant may be present to enhance absorption of the subject proteins by the nasal mucosa.

Oral liquid preparations may be in the form of, for example, aqueous or oily suspension, solutions, emulsions, syrups or elixirs, or may be presented dry in tablet form or a product for reconstitution with water or other suitable vehicle before use. Such liquid preparations may contain conventional additives such as suspending agents, emulsifying agents, non-aqueous vehicles (which may include edible oils), or preservative.

To prepare a vaccine, the purified SCP can be isolated, lyophilized and stabilized. The SCP peptide may then be adjusted to an appropriate concentration, optionally combined with a suitable vaccine adjuvant, and packaged for use. Suitable adjuvants include but are not limited to surfactants, e.g., hexadecylamine, octadecylamine, lysolecithin, dimethyldioctadecylammonium bromide, N,N-dioctadecyl-N′-N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl-propane di-amine), methoxyhexadecyl-glycerol, and pluronic polyols; polanions, e.g., pyran, dextran sulfate, poly IC, polyacrylic acid, carbopol; peptides, e.g., muramyl dipeptide, MPL, aimethylglycine, tuftsin, oil emulsions, alum, and mixtures thereof. Other potential adjuvants include the B peptide subunits of E. coli heat labile toxin or of the cholera toxin. McGhee, J. R., et al., “On vaccine development,” Sem. Hematol., 30: 3-15 (1993). Finally, the immunogenic product may be incorporated into liposomes for use in a vaccine formulation, or may be conjugated to proteins such as keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) or human serum albumin (HSA) or other polymers.

The application of SCP for vaccination of a mammal against colonization offers advantages over other vaccine candidates. Prevention of colonization or infection by inoculation with a single protein will not only reduce the incidence of the very common problems of strep throat and impetigo, but will also eliminate sequelae such as rheumatic fever, acute glomerulonephritis, sepsis, toxic shock and necrotizing fasciitis.

The following examples are intended to illustrate but not limit the invention.

EXAMPLE 1 Construction and In Vitro Analysis of Insertion and Deletion Mutants in scpA49 and scpA6

a) Bacterial strains and culture conditions. S. pyogenes strain CS101 is a serotype M49, and serum opacity positive (OF⁺) strain. CS159 is a clinical isolate with a deletion which extends through the M gene cluster and scpA. A spontaneous, streptomycin resistant derivative of strain CS101, named CS101Sm, was selected by plating streptococci from a stationary phase culture on tryptose blood agar containing streptomycin (200 μg/ml). Streptococcal strains CS210 and CS463 are spontaneous streptomycin resistant derivatives of OF⁺, class II, serotype M2, and M11 strains, respectively. Streptococcal strains 90-131 and UAB200 are spontaneous streptomycin resistant derivatives of OF⁻, class I, serotype M1 and M6 human isolates of group A streptococci, respectively.

CS101::pG⁺host5 is strain CS101 with pG⁺host5 integrated into the chromosome at an unknown location, but outside scpA and the emm gene cluster. Escherichia coli strain ER1821 (from New England Biolabs, Inc. Beverly, Mass.) was used as the recipient for the suicide vector, plasmid pG⁺host5. Plasmid pG⁺host5 was obtained from Appligene, Inc. Pleasanton, Calif. Streptococci were grown in Todd-Hewitt broth supplemented with 2% neopeptone or 1% yeast extract, or on tryptose agar plates with 5% sheep blood. E. coli strain ER1821 containing plasmid pG⁺host5 was grown in LB broth with erythromycin (300 μg/ml). Streptococci with plasmid pG⁺host5 were cultured in Todd-Hewitt broth with 1% yeast extract (THY) containing 1 μg/ml of erythromycin (Erm).

SCP refers to streptococcal C5a peptidase from β-hemolytic Streptococcus generally. SCPA1, SCPA12, SCPA49, SCPA6 are the specific peptidases from group A Streptococcus M serotype 1, 12, 49 and 6 strains, respectively. The term scpA refers to the gene encoding SCP from group A streptococci. ScpA1, scpA12, scpA6 and scpA49 are the genes encoding the SCPA1, SCPA12, SCPA49 and SCPA6 peptidases. SCPB and scpB refer to the peptidase and gene from group B streptococci. The amino acid sequences for SCPA49 (SEQ ID NO:1), SCPA12 (SEQ ID NO:2), SCPA1 (SEQ ID NO:23 and SCPB (SEQ ID NO:3) are given in FIG. 2.

b) Construction of scpA49 insertion mutant. Well-defined insertion mutants of scpA49 were constructed using plasmid insertion and gene replacement methods. An internal scpA49 BglII-BamHI fragment, the insertion target, was ligated into the thermosensitive shuttle vector pG⁺host5 to form plasmid pG::scpA1.2 and transformed into E. coli ER1821 (FIG. 3). The pG⁺host5 vector contains an E. coli origin of replication that is active at 39° C., a temperature sensitive Gram positive origin of replication (active at 30° C. and inactive at 39° C. in streptococci), and an erythromycin resistance gene for selection. High temperature forces the plasmid to integrate into the chromosomal DNA of group A streptococci by homologous recombinant at frequencies ranging from 10⁻² to 10⁻³.

Recombinant plasmid DNA pG::scpA1.2 was electroporated into CS101 recipient cells. Transformants were selected on THY-agar plates containing 1 μg/ml erythromycin at 30° C. Chromosomal integrants which resulted from recombination between the plasmid insert and the chromosomal scpA49 were selected by erythromycin resistance at 39° C. Two insertion mutants, M14 and M16, were analyzed. EmrS revertants of strain M14 and M16 were obtained by passage in THY without antibiotic at 30° C. and finally plated at 37° C. without Erm selection. Colonies that had lost the plasmid were isolated to confirm that the mutant phenotype resulted from insertion of the plasmid into scpA49, rather than from a simultaneous unrelated mutation.

c) Construction of the scpA6 insertion mutants. The scpA6 insertion mutant AK1.4 was constructed as described in section (b) above. Recombinant plasmid DNA, pG::scpA1.2, contains an internal BglII-HindIII fragment of scpA gene. This plasmid was electroporated into UAB200 recipient cells and transformants were selected on THY agar plates containing erythromycin at 30° C. A chromosomal integrant of pG::scpA1.2, strain AK1.4, which resulted from recombination between the plasmid insert and the chromosomal scpA6 was selected by growth on agar medium containing erythromycin at 39° C. Insertion into scpA6 was confirmed by Southern blotting using scpA as the probe, and PCR using an M13 universal primer (5′-GTAAAACGACGGCCAGT-3′) (SEQ ID NO:6), specific for the plasmid, and an scpA For835 primer (5′-AAGGACGACACATTGCGTA-3′) (SEQ ID NO:7), specific for the chromosomal scpA of GAS.

d) Introduction of a defined deletion into scpA (FIG. 3). A mutant strain with a defined deletion internal to scpA49 was constructed to eliminate the possibility that insertions in scpA49 could be polar and reduce expression of downstream genes, unknown genes which could also contribute to the organism's virulence. First, a defined deletion in BglII-HindIII fragment of scpA was produced by inside-out PCR with primer 1 (5′-GGGGGGGAATTCGTAGCGGGTATCATGGGAC-3′), SEQ ID NO:4, and primer 2 (5′-GGGGGGGAATTCGGGTGCTGCAATATCTGGC-3′), SEQ ID NO:5. Underlined nucleotides correspond to scpA sequences with coordinates 2398 and 2322, respectively, and the bold faced nucleotides correspond to a EcoRI recognition site. The primers were selected to produce an in-frame deletion in the scpA gene. These primers copy plasmid DNA in opposite directions and define the boundaries of the deletion. Innis, M. A., et al., eds., PCR Protocols A Guide to Methods and Applications (Academic Press, 1990). Plasmid pG::scpA1.2 DNA was used as template.

The amplified product was digested with EcoRI and ligated to plasmid pG⁺host5. The resulting plasmid pG::ΔscpA1.1 contained an 76 bp deletion internal to scpA. This in-frame deletion removed 25 amino acids, including the serine which forms part of the predicted catalytic center of serine proteases. Chen, C., and Cleary, P., “Complete nucleotide sequence of the streptococcal C5a peptidase gene of Streptococcus pyogenes,” J. Biol. Chem., 265: 3161-3167 (1990). An EcoRV site was created at the point of deletion. DNA which overlaps the deletion was sequenced to confirm the boundaries of the deletion.

The plasmid pG::ΔscpA1.1, which contains the deletion, was transformed into E. coli ER1821. Colonies were selected for ErmR and then screened for the appropriate scpA deletion using miniprep plasmid DNA restricted by EcoRI. The precise boundaries of the deletion were confirmed by DNA sequencing. Plasmid pG::ΔscpA1.1 was electroporated into strain CS101Sm as described above, then integrants were selected by grown on Erm at 39° C. Integration of the plasmid into the chromosome of the M49 strain CS101sm using high temperature selection. The insertion location was confirmed by PCR. Growth of CS101Sm (pG::ΔscpA1.1) at low temperature without erythromycin selection resulted in high frequency segregation of ErmS revertants which have lost the plasmid by random deletion event or by excision due to recombination between the duplicated scpA sequences created by the insertion. Two deletion mutants were identified, MJ2-5 and MJ3-15, and were studied further. The chromosomal deletion left behind by recombinational excision of plasmid pG::ΔscpA1.1 was defined by PCR and Southern hybridization to EcoRV digested DNA.

e) In vitro effects of mutations on SCP. The impact of insertions and deletions on the expression of SCP antigen and peptidase activity was assessed by Western blot and PMNs adherence assays. Streptococci were incubated in 100 ml THY at 37° C. overnight. The culture pellet was washed two times in 5 ml cold 0.2 M NaAcetate (pH 5.2), then suspended in 1 ml TE-sucrose buffer (20% sucrose 10 mM Tris, 1 mM EDTA, pH 7.0) and 40 μl Mutanolysin. The mixture was rotated at 37° C. for 2 hr, then centrifuged 5 min at 4500 rpm. Supernatants contained protease inhibitor, 100 mM phenylmethyl sulfonyl fluoride (PMSF). Electrophoresis and Western blotting methods were performed as described in Laemmli, U. K., “Cleavage of structural proteins during the assembly of the head of bacteriophage T4,” Nature 227: 680-685 (1970). The primary antiserum used to detect SCP protein on Western and colony blots was prepared by immunization of a rabbit with purified recombinant SCP protein. Binding was detected by anti-rabbit antibody alkaline phosphatase conjugate.

C5a peptidase activity was measured using a PMN adherence assay. Booth, S. A. et al., “Dapsone suppresses integrin-mediated neutrophil adherence function,” J. Invest. Dermatol. 98: 135-140 (1992). After incubation of C5a (Sigma, St. Louis, Mo.) with streptococcal extracts or purified protease, residual C5a can activate PMNs to become adherent to BSA coated wells. First, microtiter wells were coated with 0.5% BSA in PBS and incubated for 1 hr at 37° C. Human PMNs were isolated by centrifugation in Ficoll Hypaque (Sigma, St. Louis, Mo.). 40 μl of intact streptococci or protein extracts were incubated with 20 μl of 5 μM C5a in 340 μl of PBS with 1% glucose and 0.1% CaCl₂ at 37° C. for 45 min. BSA-coated wells were washed with PBS, and resuspended PMNs and residual C5a were added to wells. The mixture was incubated for 45 min at 37° C. in 7% CO₂. Finally, wells were washed to remove nonadherent PMNs. Adherent PMNs were stained with crystal violet and the OD_(570nm) was read in an ELISA reader. The optical density is proportional to the amount of residual C5a or inversely proportional to the amount of SCP activity.

Mutanolysin extracts of cell surface proteins from parent and mutant cultures were analyzed by Western blot using SCPA specific serum. Mutants were confirmed to lack SCPA. Extracts of SCPA⁻ mutants AK1.4 and MJ3-15 did not react with anti-SCPA serum. SCPA proteins of the expected size were observed in extracts from the wild-type strains CS101 and UAB200. Failure of mutant strains AK1.4 and MJ3-15 to produce C5a peptidase activity was verified by comparing their capacity to destroy rhC5a. Exposure of isolated PMNs to rhC5a induced them to become adherent to BSA coated microtiter wells. Incubation with streptococci or purified SCPA specifically cleaved rhC5a and altered its potential to activate PMNs. PMNs that responded to residual rhC5a and bound to BSA coated wells, were stained, then measured spectrophotometrically. Incubation of rhC5a with parent cultures UAB200 and CS101 destroyed rhC5a, which inhibited PMN adherence by 58.8% and 54.5%, respectively. In contrast SCPA⁻ mutants, AK1.4 and MJ3-15, did not alter rhC5a or adherence of PMNs to BSA coated wells (Table 1). This experiment confirmed the Western blots and demonstrated that SCPA⁻ cultures lack other proteases which might degrade rhC5a.

TABLE 1 Phagocytosis assay and PMN adherence assay of wild-type and mutant strains Colony forming Percent inhibition of units (cfu)/ml Fold increase C5a induced PMN Strain Description Time = 0 h Time = 3 h in cfu/ml adherence* UAB200 M6⁺, SCPA⁺ 1.8 × 10³ 7.2 × 10⁴ 40 58.8 AK1.4 M6⁺, SCPA⁻ 1.2 × 10³ 4.5 × 10⁴ 37.5 0 CS101 M49⁺, SCPA⁺ 1.0 × 10⁴ 4.9 × 10⁵ 49 54.5 MJ3-15 M49⁺, SCPA⁻ 1.5 × 10⁴ 2.1 × 10⁵ 14 0 *Percent inhibition = [(OD_(570 nm) of PMNs activated by C5a alone − OD_(570 nm) PMNs activated by C5a preincubated with bacteria/OD_(570 nm) of PMNs activated by C5a alone)] × 100%.

Although M protein expression was not expected to be influenced by mutations in scpA, assays were performed to assess whether SCPA⁻ mutant streptococci still expressed M protein and had the ability to resist phagocytosis. Growth of streptococci in fresh human blood during 3 hours incubation is indicative of antiphagocytic M protein on their surface. R. C. Lancefield, “Differentiation of Group A Streptococci with a Common R Antigen into Three Serological Types, with Special Reference to Bactericidal Test,” J. Exp. Med., 106, pp. 525-685 (1957). As expected, parent streptococci UAB200 and CS101 increased 40 and 49 fold, respectively (Table 1). The M⁺ SCPA⁻ cultures, strains AK1.4 and MJ3-15, increased 37.5 and 14-fold, respectively, confirming that scpA mutations had little effect on M protein expression or resistance to phagocytosis in whole human blood. The somewhat poorer growth of both mutant strains in rotated blood was reproducible and unexpected. The growth rates of mutant and parent cultures in human plasma were indistinguishable. It is possible that inactivation of SCPA allowed C5a to accumulate in rotated blood which in turn activated PMNs. Activated PMNs are more phagocytic and better able to kill M⁺ streptococci. Surface protein extracts contain M6 and M49 antigen when analyzed by Western blot using anti-M49 and anti-M6 antisera, confirming that mutations in SCPA did not alter M protein expression.

EXAMPLE 2 SCP Delays Recruitment of Phagocytes and Clearance of Streptococci from Subdermal Sites of Infection

In order to verify that SCP was responsible for the inactivation of C5a, the insertion and deletion mutants of scpA49 were constructed as described in Example 1 above, and tested for activity. When insertions or deletions were introduced into scpA49, the variant SCP was not able to destroy C5a-activated adherence of PMNs to microtiter plates.

The impact of mutations in scpA49 on virulence was tested using an animal model where streptococci remained localized, and where the influx of inflammatory cells could be analyzed. To test the hypothesis that SCP functions very early to retard initial clearance of the organism, the fate of SCP⁺ and SCP⁻ streptococci just 4 hours after inoculation of connective tissue air sacs was compared. Moreover, the dissemination of streptococci to lymph nodes and spleens after this short period of infection was also assessed.

CD1 male outbred mice (25 g) obtained from Charles River Breeding Laboratory, Wilmington, Mass. were used for all experiments. A connective tissue air sac was generated by injecting 0.9 ml of air and 0.1 ml group A streptococci diluted in PBS with a 25-gauge needle under the skin on the back of the mouse. In some experiments the SCP⁺ CS101::pG⁺host5 was used as a positive control. In other experiments strain CS101Sm was used as the positive control. Mice were euthanized by cervical dislocation 4 hours after infection. Where indicated, all four inguinal lymph nodes, spleen and air sac were dissected from the animals and homogenized in PBS. Tissue suspensions were assayed for viable colony forming unit (CFU) on blood agar plates containing 1 μg/ml erythromycin or 200 μg/ml streptomycin.

In a preliminary experiment air sacs were fixed on slides, stained with Wright's stain and examined microscopically. Although counts of granulocytes by this method were unreliable, there appeared to be significantly fewer residual SCP⁻ than wild-type streptococci in fixed tissue. Additional experiments were performed in an attempt to measure this difference. Dispersed cell populations of air sacs were prepared by grinding the air sac in PBS and passing them through Nylon monofilament mesh (TETKO Co. New York).

The cells were pelleted by centrifugation 5 min at 300×g and resuspended at 5×10⁶/ml in FACS buffer (Hank's balanced salt solution without phenol red, 0.1% NaN₃, 1.0% BSA fraction V). Cells (1.0×10⁶) were stained directly with 1 μg FITC anti-mouse Mac-1 or indirectly with 1 μg Biotin conjugated anti-mouse Gr-1 followed by 1 μg Streptavidin labelled with fluorescene or FITC. Monoclonal antibodies, Mac-1 and Gr-1, were obtained from Pharmingen, Inc. CA. Labeled cells were fixed in 1.0% paraformaldehyde. Fluorescence profiles were generated using a FAC-Scan flowcytometer and Consort™ 32 software (Becton Dickinson). Mouse PMNs were purified from whole blood by Ficoll Hypaque density gradient centrifugation and used as a standard to defined PMNs in mixed populations. For measurement of specifically labeled cells, the mean fluorescence for each antibody marker was determined and gates were set to reflect intensely labeled cells. Controls included unstained cells, and cells exposed to only streptavidin FITC.

Two experiments were performed. The first compared the scpA49 insertion mutant M16 to its SCP⁺ parent culture, strain CS101. The second compared the scpA49 deletion mutant MJ3-15, to its parent, strain CS101Sm. (Table 2) In both experiments homogenized air sacs from mice inoculated with SCP⁻ streptococci contained fewer numbers of streptococci after 4 hours than air sacs inoculated with wild-type streptococci. The first experiment showed a two-fold reduction and the second showed a four-fold reduction. These differences were statistically significant at P<0.05 and P<0.001, respectively, using an Unpaired t-test. It was also observed that wild-type SCP+streptococci were found in spleen homogenates from 7 of 8 mice and 6 of 8 mice; whereas, the SCP⁻ mutants were rarely found in the spleen. The opposite was true for lymph node homogenates. Nodes from 10 of 16 mice infected with SCP⁻ streptococci harbored viable streptococci; whereas, only 4 of 16 nodes from mice infected with wild-type streptococci contained viable bacteria. This difference was determined to be statistically significant at P<0.05 using the Fisher's exact test.

TABLE 2 Distribution of SCP⁺ and SCP⁻ streptococci 4 hours after air sac infection No. of positive cultures No. of lymph Homogenized Strains Mice^(a) spleen^(b) node Air Sac^(c) CS101pG (SCP⁺) 8 7 2 1.3 × 10⁸ ± 2.2 × 10⁷ M16 (SCP⁻) 8 0 5 6.0 × 10⁷ ± 1.3 × 10⁷ CS101Sm (SCP⁺) 8 6 2 1.6 × 10⁸ ± 2.6 × 10⁷ MJ3-15 (SCP⁻) 8 1 5 3.7 × 10⁷ ± 1.5 × 10⁷ ^(a)Each mouse was inoculated with 3 × 10⁸ CFU of stationary phase streptococci. ^(b)Difference in the frequency of isolation of SCP⁺ streptococci from spleens relative to SCP⁻ streptococci was statistically significant (P < 0.05) for each experiment by the Fisher's exact test. ^(c)Differences in CFU isolated from homogenized air sacs (means ± SEMs) were significant, strains CS101pG (SCP⁺) and M16 (SCP⁻) and MJ3-15 (SCP⁻) (P < 0.001) for each experiment by unpaired t test.

The more rapid clearance of streptococci from air sacs resulted from more intense recruitment of PMNs. The total cell population, the percentage of Mac-1 positive granulocytes (Springer, G. et al., “Mac-1:macrophage differentiation antigen identified by monoclonal antibody,” Eur. J. Immunol. 9: 301-306 (1979)), and the percentage of Gr-1 positive PMN (Brummer, E. et al., “Immunological activation of polymorphonuclear neutrophils for fungal killing: studies with murine cells and blastomyces dermatitidis in vitro,” J. Leuko. Bio. 36: 505-520 (1984)) in air sacs were compared by single color FACS analysis. Clark, J. M., “A new method for quantitation of cell-mediated immunity in the mouse,” J. Reticuloendothel. Soc. 25: 255-267 (1979). Briefly, in a FACS analysis, individual cells in suspension are labelled with specific fluorescent monoantibodies. Aliquots of labelled cells are injected into a FAC-Scan flowcytometer or fluorescent cell sorter which counts cells based on their unique fluorescence.

Air sacs infected with the SCP⁻ deletion mutant contained twice as many inflammatory cells as those inoculated with SCP⁺ streptococci (FIG. 4). A hundred-fold increase in the inoculum size did not alter this difference. Air sacs infected with 1×10⁶ SCP⁻ cells, strain MJ3-15, contained three times more Gr-1 positive cells than those inoculated with the SCP⁺ culture. In airs sacs inoculated with SCP⁺ streptococci approximately 6% of the cells were PMNs and 21% were other kinds of Mac-1⁺ granulocytes, including PMNs. In contrast, air sacs inoculated with SCP⁻ streptococci contained predominately PMNs. Gr-1 positive cells were equal to or greater than the number of Mac-1 positive cells. Flow cytometer gates were set to measure only high staining granulocytes. The remaining 70-80% of cells not stained with either antibody were likely either low staining granulocytes, red blood cells or lymphocytes. Large numbers of lymphocytes were observed microscopically in Wrights stained air sac preparations.

SCP⁺ colonies of streptococci that emerged from spleen homogenates were highly encapsulated, resembling water drops. In contrast the few SCP⁻ colonies arising from lymph nodes, were more like the inoculum. They were mixtures of non-mucoid and moderately mucoid colonies. These data suggest that M⁺SCP⁺ encapsulated streptococci can adapt, multiply and invade the bloodstream within 4 hours after infection. The basis for differential trafficking of mutant and wild-type streptococci may be due to the more vigorous influx of phagocytic cells in response SCP⁻ bacteria. Macrophages and/or skin dendritic cells may more rapidly engulfed SCP streptococci and delivered them to lymph nodes. Reduction of mutant streptococci relative to wild-type is an unexpected finding, because SCP⁻ streptococci are M⁺ and resistant to phagocytosis by human neutrophils in vitro.

EXAMPLE 3 SCP is Required for Colonization of the Mouse Nasopharynx

Mice were inoculated intranasally to evaluate the relative capacity of wild-type (SCP⁺) and SCP⁻ streptococci to colonize the nasopharynx. Streptomycin resistant M49 strain CS101 and deletion mutant MJ3-15 were used in these experiments. Cultures were not mouse passed in order to avoid selection of variants that might be uniquely mouse virulent, but no longer depend on M protein and/or SCP for persistence in the animal.

Sixteen hour cultures of challenge streptococcal strains (1×10⁸-9×10⁸ CFU), grown in Todd-Hewitt broth containing 20% normal rabbit serum and resuspended in 10 μl of PBS, were administered intranasally to 25g female CD1 (Charles River Breeding Laboratories, Inc., Wilmington, Mass.) or BALB/c mice (Sasco, Omaha Nebr.). Viable counts were determined by plating dilutions of cultures on blood agar plates. Throat swabs were taken daily from anesthetized mice for 6 to 10 days after inoculation and streaked onto blood agar plates containing 200 ug/ml streptomycin. After overnight incubation at 37° C., the number of β-hemolytic colonies on plates were counted. All challenge strains were marked by streptomycin resistance to distinguish them from β-hemolytic bacteria which may be persist in the normal flora. Throat swabs were cultured on blood agar containing streptomycin. The presence of one β-hemolytic colony was taken as a positive culture.

CD 1 outbred mice were intranasally inoculated with 2×10⁸ stationary phase CFU. The nasopharynxes of anesthetized mice were swabbed daily for 8-10 days and streaked on blood agar containing streptomycin. Differences between SCP⁺ and SCP⁻ were evident by day 1, however, statistically significant differences were not observed until days 3 and 4 (FIG. 5). By day four 9/18 mice infected with M⁺SCP⁺ streptococci produced positive throat cultures, whereas only 2/18 mice infected with M⁺SCP⁻ strain retained streptococci in their throats. Four of 18 mice died from infection with SCP⁺ streptococci. None of the mice following infection with SCP⁻ bacteria succumbed to the infection. The numbers of colonies on the blood agar plates were also consistent with more rapid clearance of SCP⁻ streptococci. For example, on the third day cultures from seven mice contained >100 SCP⁺ CFU, whereas, only one mouse inoculated SCP⁻ streptococci contained >100 CFU.

Because M49 streptococci are more often associated with skin infections the above experiments were repeated with an M6 strain, a serotype more often associated with throat infections. An insertion mutant, strain AK1.4, was constructed using the M6 strain UAB200 and the strategy previously described in Example 1. Strain AK1.4 was also cleared more rapidly than the wild-type M6 culture from the nasopharynx. (FIG. 6) The above experiments confirm that group A streptococci are dependent upon SCP for persistence in the mouse nasopharynx. All SCP⁻ variants used in the above experiments were M⁺, i.e. they resisted phagocytosis by fresh human blood. Yet, they were cleared from the nasopharyngeal mucosa.

EXAMPLE 4 Intranasal Immunization of Mice with Purified Recombinant SCPA49 Blocks Colonization Following Intranasal Challenge

a) Construction of Recombinant Vaccine ΔSCPA49 Encoding Thr⁶³ through His¹⁰³¹ (FIGS. 2A-2D and 7).

A PCR fragment which corresponds to a truncated form of the scpA49 gene was cloned from CS101 M49 group A streptococci (ΔSCPA49). This fragment was amplified by PCR using a forward primer beginning at nucleotide 1033 and a reverse primer beginning at nucleotide 3941 (numbering corresponding to that of Chen, C., and Cleary, P., “Complete nucleotide sequence of the streptococcal C5a peptidase gene of Streptococcus pyogenes,” J. Biol. Chem., 265: 3161-3167 (1990)). The fragment was ligated to the thrombin binding site of glutathione transferase gene on the pGex-4T-1 high expression vector from Pharmacia Inc. The plasmid containing the recombinant scpA fragment, designated pJC6, has been deposited in the American Type Culture Collection, 10801 University Boulevard, Manassas, Va 20110-2209 under the provision of the Budapest Treaty, and assigned ATCC accession number 98225.

The ΔSCPA49, a 2908 bp fragment of scpA49, was amplified by PCR using an scpA49 forward primer containing a BamHI recognition sequence (5′-CCCCCCGGATCCACCAAAACCCCACAAACTC-3′) (SEQ ID NO:8) and an scpA reverse primer (5′-GAGTGGCCCTCCAATAGC-3′) (SEQ ID NO:9). Sequences which code for the signal peptide and membrane anchor regions of the SCPA protein were deleted from the resulting PCR product. PCR products were digested with BamHI and ligated to BamHI and SmaI restriction sites in the thrombin recognition site of the glutathione S-transferase gene on the pGEX-4T-1 high expression vector from Pharmacia Inc. (Piscataway, N.J.). The recombinant plasmid was transformed into E. coli DH5α. The ΔSCPA49 fusion protein from one transformant, E. coli (pJC6), was purified by affinity chromatography on a glutathione Sepharose™ 4B column. The transferase-SCP fusion protein from one E. coli clone was expressed and purified by affinity chromatography on a glutathione Sepharose™ 4b column. All methods are described by the manufacturer (Pharmacia). The ΔSCPA49 was cleaved from the hybrid protein by thrombin digestion. The thrombin was removed from eluted SCP by chromatography on a benzamidine Sepharose™ 6B column (Pharmacia). Following digestion with thrombin, thrombin was removed by chromatography on a benzamidine-Sepharose™ 6B column. Methods of expression and purification are described by the manufacturer. The affinity purified protein was confirmed to be pure ΔSCPA49 by SDS-PAGE and by Western blot. This affinity purified, truncated ΔSCPA49 protein lacked peptidase activity when tested by the PMN adherence assay (described in Example 1 above). Hyperimmune antiserum,directed against purified ΔSCPA49 was prepared in rabbits.

b) Immunization and challenge protocol. Four week old, outbred, CD1 female mice were immunized by administration of 20 μg of affinity purified ΔSCPA49 in 10 μl PBS into each nostril. Mice were immunized 3 times on alternating days and boosted again three weeks after the third immunization. After two weeks rest, mice were again boosted. D. Bessen et al., “Influence of Intranasal Immunization with Synthetic Peptides Corresponding to Conserved Epitopes of M Protein on Mucosal Colonization by Group A Streptococci,” Infect. Immun., 56, pp. 2666-2672 (1988). Control mice received only PBS. Prior to infection, all mice which were immunized with ΔSCPA49 protein were determined by ELISA to have high titers of antibodies against ΔSCPA49 antigen in their serum and saliva. Group A streptococci, strain CS101 (2.0×10⁸ CFU), CS210 (3.6×10⁸ CFU), CS463 (7.8×10⁸ CFU), 90-131 (3.4×10⁸ CFU), and UAB200 (9.6×10⁸ CFU) were used to intranasally challenge the mice 7 days after the last vaccine booster. Animal studies were performed according to National Institutes of Health guidelines.

c) Sample collection and ELISA. Blood and saliva samples were collected from anesthetized mice after immunization. All sera were tested for the presence of SCPA49 antibodies by ELISA, as previously described. S. P. O'Connor et al., “The Human Antibody Response to Streptococcal C5a Peptidase,” J. Infect. Dis., 163, pp. 109-116 (1990). Purified SCPA49 protein was bound to microtiter wells by addition of 500 ng of purified protein in 0.05M bicarbonate buffer (pH 9.6). After overnight incubation at 4° C. the wells were washed, then blocked with 0.5% BSA in PBS for 1 hour. Salivation was stimulated in mice by injection of 100 μl of a 0.1% pilocarpine (Sigma) solution subcutaneously. Saliva samples were collected and spun at 14,000 rpm for 5 min in an Eppendorf™ microcentrifuge. The upernatants were tested for the presence of secretory IgA against ΔSCPA49 protein by ELISA. ELISA titers represent the highest dilution of individual serum and saliva which had an OD₄₀₅≧0.1.

d) Evaluation of Antibody Response to ΔSCPA49

The immunogenicity of the subunit ΔSCPA49 vaccine was evaluated. Rabbits were immunized with purified ΔSCPA49. The rabbits developed high levels of antibodies against ΔSCPA49 protein as determined by ELISA. Although the purified ΔSCPA49 immunogen lacked functional activity, hyperimmune rabbit antiserum could neutralize the peptidase activity of purified wild-type SCPA49 enzyme in vitro.

Moreover, undiluted rabbit antiserum against ΔSCPA49 protein was able to neutralize C5a peptidase activity associated with different serotypes (FIG. 8). C5a peptidase activity associated with intact M1, M6 and M12 streptococci was inhibited by this antiserum, confirming that antibody against ΔSCPA49 protein lacks serotype specificity.

Also, serum and saliva samples were obtained from ten immunized and ten control mice to assess the immunogenicity of ΔSCPA49 protein when administered via the intranasal route without adjuvants. Mice which were immunized with purified ΔSCPA49 protein developed high titers of ΔSCPA49-specific IgG in their sera, compared to control mice immunized with PBS (FIG. 9). Titers of serum IgG directed against ΔSCPA49 ranged from 1:10,240 to 1:20,480. In contrast, ΔSCPA49-specific IgG titer of control mice was not detectable in sera. Mice immunized with purified ΔSCPA49 protein also showed a significant increase in ΔSCPA49-specific salivary sIgA relative to control mice. Specific sIgA titers in saliva of immunized mice were greater than 1:16. In contrast, sIgA directed against ΔSCPA49 in the saliva of control mice was not detectable. The relative concentration of IgG and sIgA in serum diluted 1/2560 and saliva diluted 1/2, respectively, are shown in FIG. 9. These results demonstrate that purified ΔSCPA49 protein is an effective immunogen for the induction of specific systemic and secretory antibody responses in mice when administered intranasally.

e) Impact of Vaccine ΔSCPA49 on Clearance of Streptococci from Infected Mice.

Experiments were performed to determine whether immunization with the C5a peptidase would enhance clearance of streptococci from the nasopharynx. Both hyperimmune rabbit and human sera that contain high levels of anti-SCPA antibody can neutralize SCPA activity in vitro. S. P. O'Connor et al., “The Human Antibody Response to Streptococcal C5a Peptidase,” J. Infect. Dis., 163, pp. 109-116 (1990). The fact that SCPA significantly facilitates colonization of the oral mucosa suggests that immunization of mice with purified ΔSCPA49 could reduce the capacity of streptococci to colonize the nasopharynx. Mice were immunized intranasally with affinity purified, genetically inactivated SCPA to test this possibility. The truncated protein, ΔSCPA49, was administered intranasally without adjuvants or carriers. Pharyngeal colonization of vaccinated mice by wild-type M⁺ SCPA⁺ streptococci differed significantly from those immunized with PBS in three independent experiments using mice vaccinated with two different preparations of purified ΔSCPA49 protein (Tables 3 and 4; FIG. 10). Only one of 13 mice immunized with ΔSCPA49 protein was culture positive for streptococci ten days after inoculation (Table 4; FIG. 10). In contrast, 30-58% of the non-vaccinated controls remained culture positive for six days, and some were still positive ten days after infection. The numbers of β-hemolytic, streptomycin resistant colonies on blood agar plates also showed a significant difference between ΔSCPA49 vaccinated and control mice. Different sets of immunized mice cleared serotype M49 streptococci significantly more rapidly from their nasopharynx than non-immunized control.

TABLE 3 Throat cultures for streptococci after intranasal challenge of mice vaccinated intranasally with PBS or SCP expressed in E. coli DH5α (CFU after vaccine) Days after challenge Mice 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 PBSCT-II  1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  2 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  3 77 >200 150 4 11 3 0 51 97 53  4 9 >200 >200 3 11 3 0 0 0 0  5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  6 4 6 45 47 3 >200 29 >200 83 70  7 15 194 >200 9 172 10 5 3 0 0  8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  9 0 32 4 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 127 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 No. of 8 6 5 5 4 4 2 3 2 2 positive SCPAD-II  1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  5 35 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 0 0 0 21 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 No. of 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 positive

TABLE 4 Throat cultures for streptococci after intranasal challenge of mice vaccinated intranasally with PBS or SCP expressed in E. coli DH5α (CFU after vaccine) Days after challenge Mice* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 PBSCT-I  1 112 143 85 16 0 0 0 0 0 0  2 127 27 18 89 3 7 7 7 70 3  3 >200 >200 >200 >200 >200 >200 >200 108 >200 66  4 31 200 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 0  5 4 0 0 3 3 0 0 0 0 0  6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  7 >200 >200 120 125 91 145 >200 >200 >200 166  8 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 37 200 194 16 >200 47 >200 101 >200 >200 No. of positive 8 6 6 7 5 4 4 4 4 SCPAD-I  1 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  2 105 41 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  4 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  5 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  6 9 0 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  8 26 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  9 0 19 0 0 5 57 0 0 21 91 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 No. of positive 7 2 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 *Mice were inoculated twice, because the dose of bacteria was too low at first time inoculation.

Last, it was examined whether SCP of one serotype would vaccinate animals against infection from other serotypes. There are more than 80 different serotypes of group A streptococci. An effective vaccine should prevent infection to more than one streptococcal serotype. Cross-protection was produced against colonization by the streptococcal OF⁺ serotypes M2 and M11 and the OF⁻ serotypes M1 and M6. The fact that rabbit serum directed against ΔSCPA49 protein from serotype M49 streptococci neutralized peptidase activity associated with several serotypes suggested that intranasal immunization with a single subunit vaccine might reduce or eliminate pharyngeal colonization by those serotypes. To explore this possibility four groups of twenty mice were immunized by intranasal inoculation with affinity purified ΔSCPA49 protein as described above. Control mice received PBS. Prior to being challenged with streptococci, serum and saliva samples from randomly chosen, immunized and control mice were assayed for anti-SCPA antibody. All immunized mice tested had developed a strong serum and measurable salivary antibody response. Pharyngeal colonization of mice immunized with ΔSCPA49 protein by strains of all four serotypes was reduced relative to non-immunized controls. Differences were most significant on days 3 and 5 after inoculation (Table 5).

TABLE 5 Immune protectivity is serotype independent Day 3 after inoculation Day 5 after inoculation Nonimmune Immune Nonimmune Immune (+/total) % (+/total) % (+/total) % (+/total) % M2 10/19 52.6 2/19* 10.5 3/19 15.8 1/19 5.2 11 17/20 85 11/20* 55 8/20 40 2/20* 10 1 16/19 84.2 11/19 57.9 7/19 37 2/19* 10.5 6 14/20 70 12/19 63.2 8/20 40 4/19 21.1 + means culture positive mice. *Differences between immunized and non-immunized mice are statistically significant (P < 0.05). P values were calculated by x² analysis.

Statistically significant differences were observed between immunized and control mice inoculated with serotype M2, M11 and M1 strains. However, the OF⁺ serotypes M2 and M11 were more efficiently eliminated by immunized mice than were the OF⁻ strains, M1 and M6. M1 streptococcal colonization of immunized mice was significantly reduced relative to control mice. Only 10.5% of the immunized mice were culture positive by day 5 post-infection. In contrast, 37% of the control mice were culture positive with this strain. Although immunized mice appeared to clear M6 streptococci more rapidly, the differences were not statistically significant. As in previous experiments the number of β-hemolytic streptococcal colonies on blood agar plates were significantly fewer in samples taken from vaccinated mice than those taken from control animals. Thus, the ΔSCPA 49 protein was an effective vaccine that provided cross-protection against other streptococcal serotypes.

EXAMPLE 5 Site-Directed Mutagenesis of SCPA49

Group A streptococcal serotypes can be divided into two major groups, OF⁺ and OF⁻ strains. The latter are more often associated with rheumatic fever and toxic shock, whereas OF⁺ strains are a common cause of impetigo and acute glomerulonephritis. Although the SCPA proteins of these groups are 95-98% identical, it is possible that the immune response to them may be somewhat different. This concern prompted efforts to develop defined variant SCPAs from an M1 OF⁻ strain and from an M49 OF⁺ strain in parallel. Amino acids that are required for catalytic activity were replaced with those expected to inactivate the enzyme (FIG. 1). The N and C-terminal amino acid boundaries of SCPA49, expressed the pGEX-4T-1 subclones, were Asn³² and His¹¹³⁹, respectively (FIGS. 1 and 8). Ser 12 (SCPA49S512A), Asn 295 (SCPA49N295A) and Asp¹³⁰ (SCPA49D130A) in the SCPA49 protein were replaced with Ala, and Asn²⁹⁵ (SCPA49N295R) was replaced by Arg (Deborah Stafslien, M. S. Thesis, University of Minnesota).

The method used to introduce mutations into the scpA49 gene from Streptococcus strain CS101 was the “megaprimer” method of site-directed mutagenesis. Barik, S., “Site directed mutagenesis in vitro megaprimer PCR,” In: Methods in Molecular Biology, Vol. 57: In Vitro Mutagenesis Protocols, Humana Press, Inc. Totowa, N.J. (1996). The serine mutation was introduced using primers scpFor940 (5′-CCCCCCGGATCCAATACTGTGACAGAAGACACTCC-3′), SEQ ID NO:10, and scpmutrev1883 (5′-TTTCTGGAACTAGTATGTCTGCGCC-3′), SEQ ID NO:11, to amplify a 1450 bp double-stranded PCR product. This first PCR product, a “megaprimer,” was purified using the Qiagen Qiaquick° Gel Extraction Kit, then used in a second asymmetrical PCR reaction to amplify the 3.3 kb scpA49 gene containing the desired mutation. Five cycles of denaturation (93° C., 1 min) and extension (72° C., 5 min) were carried out before addition of the reverse primer scpRev4263, (3′-CCCCCCCTCGAGATGTAAACGATTTGTATCCTTGTCATTAG-3′) SEQ ID NO:12. During the fifth cycle at 72° C., the reverse primer was added at a concentration of 1 mM. The amplification was completed using 25 cycles at 94° C. for 1 min, 58° C. for 2 min, and 72° C. for 2-3.5 minutes. Reactant concentrations were the same as described in the previous section, except that a forward primer was not added and the megaprimer was added at a concentration of 4-6 μg per 100 μl reaction. This process yielded variant protein SCPA49S512A (see Table 6 below).

The aspartate and asparagine variants were constructed in much the same fashion, using the reverse primers scpmutrev717 (5′-CAGTGATTGATGCTGGTTTTGATAA-3′) SEQ ID NO:13 and scpmutrev1214 (5′-AGCTACTATCAGCACCAG-3′) SEQ ID NO:14 to construct 311 bp and 805 bp megaprimers, respectively. The primer scpmutrev717 was used to generate variant protein SCPA49D130A, and primer scpmutrev1214 was used to generate variant protein SCPA49N295A (see Table 6 below). After Qiaquick® purification, however, the megaprimer was treated with 0.1 U mung bean nuclease (per 4 μg DNA) and incubated at 30° C. for 10 minutes. The nuclease was removed by phenol/chloroform extraction, and the megaprimer recovered in the aqueous phase by ethanol precipitation. The pellet was resuspended in 80 μl sterile double distilled water, and 37 μl of this was used in each 100 μl asymmetrical PCR reaction. The mutated gene was then cloned into pGEX 4T-1 as previously described. Sequencing of variants was performed using ³⁵S-labeled dATP and the Sequenase™ kit (Stratagene®) or using automated fluorescent sequencing at the University of Minnesota Microchemical Facility.

TABLE 6 Amino acid sequence comparison of variant proteins 127  132 291 297 508  514 876   883 Wild-type SCPA49 AVIDAG TSAGNDS LSGTSGT STLGSRF (SEQ ID (SEQ ID (SEQ ID (SEQ ID NO:24) NO:25) NO:27) NO:28) SCP S512A49 AVIDAG TSAGNDS LSGTAGT STLGSRF (SEQ ID (SEQ ID (SEQ ID (SEQ ID NO:24) NO:25) NO:26) NO:28) SCP D130A49 AVIAAG TSAGNDS LSGTSGT STLGSRF (SEQ ID (SEQ ID (SEQ ID (SEQ ID NO:29) NO:25) NO:27) NO:28) SCP N295A49 AVIDAG TSAGADS LSGTSGT STLGSRF (SEQ ID (SEQ ID (SEQ ID (SEQ ID NO:24) NO:30) NO:27) NO:28)

The E. coli expression vector pGEX 4T-1 was used to overexpress variant SCPA as GST fusion proteins. Recombinant SCPA was purified according to the protocol provided in the GST Gene Fusion System Handbook (Pharmacia) previous to this work.

The SCPA protein antigen was purified by affinity chromatography as described above.

EXAMPLE 6 Construction of SCPA1 and SCPB Variants

The wild-type scpA1 gene was amplified by PCR from M1 serotype of S. pyogenes (strain 90-226) in the following manner. Primers were designed such that only a fragment of the complete gene would be expressed. This fragment corresponds to the start of the mature protein and terminates just before the cell wall associated domain residue Asn³² through Asp¹⁰³⁸ (FIG. 2A-2D). The forward primer 5′-CCCCCCGAATTCATTACTGTG ACAGAAGACACTCCTGC-3′ (SEQ ID NO:15) anneals starting at base number 940 (numbering corresponding to that of Chen, C., and Cleary, P., “Complete nucleotide sequence of the streptococcal C5a peptidase gene of Streptococcus pyogenes,” J. Biol. Chem., 265: 3161-3167 (1990). The opposing, reverse PCR primer, 5′-CCCCCCGGATCCTTATTGTTCTGGTTTATTAGA GTGGCC-3′ (SEQ ID NO:16) anneals at base number 3954 just upstream of a region of DNA repeats. This repeat region of the protein is predicted to be the part that passes through, and then attaches to the peptidoglycan of the cell wall. The italicized region of each primer is additional sequence that has been added to the S. pyogenes sequence to enable the cloning process. The underlined region of the forward primer incorporates a EcoRI restriction site, the underlined portion of the reverse primer a BamHI site. The reverse primer also incorporates a stop codon (TAA) in frame of the gene that terminates translation.

The resultant PCR product corresponding to bases 940-3954 was cloned into an intermediate vector pCR2.1 (Invitrogen™, Inc.) and transformed into E. coli Top10F cells (Invitrogen™, Inc.). Plasmid DNA from an appropriate transformant was restricted with EcoRI and BamHI. The 3018 base fragment, containing the fragment of scpA 1, was gel purified following standard procedures and ligated into the expression vector pTrc99a (Pharmacia) restricted with the same enzymes. This ligation was transformed into E. coli DH5a cells and a transformant was selected that contained the desired plasmid construction. The resultant plasmid places the PCR fragment of scpA1 behind a Shine-Dalgamo sequence and ATG start site, and is under the transcriptional control of the trc Promoter, that is inducible with the allolactose analogue IPTG.

Site-specific genetic variants of the wild-type scpA1 were constructed following a procedure described by C. L. Fisher and G. K. Pei, “Modification of a PCR-based site-directed mutagenesis method,” BioTechniques, 23: 570-574 (1997). The appropriate amino acid residues within SCPA1 important for protease activity were predicted by sequence comparisons to the family of subtilisin-like serine proteases. Siezen, R. J., et al., “Homology modeling and protein engineering strategy of subtilases, the family of subtilisin-like serine proteinases,” Protein Engineering, 4: 719-737 (1991); Chen, C., and Cleary, P., “Complete nucleotide sequence of the streptococcal C5a peptidase gene of Streptococcus pyogenes,” J. Biol. Chem., 265: 3161-3167 (1990). Three residues, conserved amongst this family, are involved in the formation of the active site. In SCPA1, these correspond to the Asp¹³⁰, His¹⁹³, and Ser⁵¹². Three sets of non-overlapping oligonucleotides were designed for use in PCR to alter each one of these amino acid residues. These oligonucleotides were designed to amplify away from each other on opposite strands of DNA. In each set, the 5′ end of one of the primers would contain the codon encoding one of these amino acids for mutation and this codon would be altered to encode an alanine. These three sets of primers are listed below; the codons that are changes are italicized.

D130A:

(SEQ ID NO: 17) Forward 5′ - ATT GCT GCT GGT TTT GAT AAA AAT CAT GAA GCG - 3′

GAT codon change to GCT corresponds to an aspartate to alanine amino acid change.

(SEQ ID NO: 18) Reverse 5′ - CAC TGC AAC AAC AGT CCC - 3′

H193A:

(SEQ ID NO: 19) Forward 5′ - GAG GCC GGC ACA CAC GTG - 3′

CAC codon change to GCC corresponds to a histidine to alanine amino acid change.

(SEQ ID NO: 20) Reverse 5′ - TTG ATC GAC AGC GGT TTT ACC - 3′

S512A:

(SEQ ID NO: 21) Forward 5′ - ACT GCT ATG TCT GCT CCA TTA G - 3′

ACT codon change to GCT corresponds to a serine to alanine amino acid change.

(SEQ ID NO: 22) Reverse 5′ - TCC AGA AAG TTT GGC ATA CTT GTT GTT AGC C

These sets of PCR primers were used in three separate reactions. The template DNA was pLP605, which contained the wild-type scpA1 sequence. The PCR products were subsequently self-ligated and transformed into the E. coli strain Top10F′ (Invitrogen™, Inc.). Transformants were screened for the appropriate size and restriction pattern. The sequence change in the S512A variant destroys a unique SpeI restriction site so that this mutation could be identified directly by restriction analysis. All potential variants were confirmed by DNA sequencing. Subsequently, the D130A mutation was combined with the S512A mutation to form a double variant utilizing a unique PstI site between these two regions of the protein. The final alteration was to change the antibiotic selection from ampicillin to kanamycin by moving the variant scpA1 genes to a previously altered pTRC99a vector (Pharmacia, Inc.) containing the kanamycin gene.

A variant of SCPB protein was constructed using the method described above for SCPA1 mutants. The wild-type SCPB gene was cloned from group B streptococcus 78-471 (Type IIa⁺).

EXAMPLE 7 Analysis of Variant Proteins

Proteins expressed from each of the variant constructs were analyzed by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The expected size of the protein is 121 kD, however, the proline-rich cell wall spanning domain at the carboxy terminus of the enzyme causes the protein to run slightly slower during SDS-PAGE. Therefore the apparent molecular weight is 130 kD when determined by SDS-PAGE. Since active SCP could be harmful to the host, it was important that the variant proteins lacked enzymatic activity. Two properties of the variant proteins were evaluated. The specific activities of the wild-type and variant proteins as determined by PMN adherence assay are compared in Table 7. These experiments indicated that the substituted amino acids reduced enzymatic activity by greater than 90%.

TABLE 7 PMN adherence assay determination of variant protease activity Protein Activity (U/mg * 10⁻³) Wild-type 170 SCPA49D130A <20 SCPA49N295A <20 SCPA49S512A <20

The variant proteins were also compared to the wild-type protein for their capacity to bind antibody directed against the wild-type enzyme. Competitive ELISA assays were used for this purpose. Competitive ELISAs measured the inhibition of antibody binding to immobilized antigen by soluble antigen. A constant amount of wild-type antigen was bound to wells of the microtiter plate. A constant amount of antibody is added at the same time with varying amounts of soluble competitive antigen. The slope of the percent inhibition versus antigen concentration curves estimate the relative binding affinity of the soluble antigen for antibody. While the binding constants cannot be calculated without knowing the exact concentration of anti-SCPA in the antiserum, the relative binding affinities of several proteins were compared (FIG. 11). Since the slopes of the percent inhibition versus concentration curves are the same for the wild-type and variant proteins, it was concluded that amino acid substitution did not alter the ability of antibody to bind to the variant proteins.

Recombinant SCPA1, SCPA49 and SCPB proteins were also determined to bind equally well to anti-SCP antibody (FIG. 12). In this experiment the plate antigen was SCPA49 and the antibody was rabbit anti-SCPA49. The relative affinities of this antibody for these antigens, indicated by the slope of the curves is highly similar. These results demonstrate that SCPA protein from M49 OF⁺ and M1 OF⁻ group A Streptococci, and from group B streptococci are equivalent with regard to antibody recognition and may be used interchangeably in a vaccine preparation.

EXAMPLE 8 Subcutaneous (SQ) Administration of SCPA Antigen Induces Protection in Mice

All earlier protection studies were performed by administering affinity purified SCPA49 protein intranasally without adjuvant. Intramuscular or SQ injection of antigens is historically a preferred, more accepted method of vaccine delivery. Therefore, experiments were performed to test whether SQ injections of SCPA with MPL/alum induced a protective immune response and whether that response reduced colonization when the challenge strain of group A streptococcus differed in serotype from the source of the SCPA vaccine. The capacity of immunized mice to clear streptococci from the oral-nasal pharyngeal mucosa was evaluated by throat culture or by sampling dissected nasal tissue. Representative throat culture data are presented in Table 8.

TABLE 8 Subcutaneous vaccination of mice Percent Colonized^(c) SCPA- Vaccine^(a) Challenge Bacteria^(b) Control Mice Immunized Mice SCPA49S512A OF⁺M49 64% (3) 36% ΔSCPA49 OF⁺M49 64% (3) 20% ΔSCPA49 OF⁻M1 33% (5)  8% SCPA1S512A OF⁻M49 23% (5)  8% ^(a)Vaccines contained 10 μg of the indicated antigens mixed with adjuvants MPL and alum. Experimental groups each contained 13-20 mice. Control mice were immunized with tetanus toxoid mixed with the same adjuvant. ^(b)Mice were infected by intranasal inoculation. ^(c)Colonization was assessed by throat culture. The numbers in parentheses indicate the day on which the cultures were taken.

Mice immunized by SQ injection of each of the three different forms of SCPA antigen induced moderate protection. Immunization with ΔSCPA49 protected against both OF⁻ M1 and OF⁺ M49 strains. SCPA49S512A and SCPA1S512A were chosen for subsequent study.

Persistence of streptococci following intranasal challenge was also assessed by a more quantitative assay. This method involved sacrificing groups of mice at different times following infection, and dissecting nasal tissue (NT), which was then assayed for viable streptococci (CFU). Standard amounts of NT were homogenized in buffer and the number of CFU/mg tissue was determined by viable count.

Three groups of mice were immunized SQ with SCPA49S512A, SCPA1S512A or tetanus toxoid. All vaccines were mixed with MPL/Alum adjuvants as before. Mice received four injections of 5 μg protein antigen and then challenged two weeks after the last injection. Nasal tissue was harvested 16 hours after challenge with the OF⁺ M49 strain CS101. The geometric means of CFU/mg tissue are shown in Table 9.

TABLE 9 Geometric means of CFU/mg nasal tissue Vaccine Antigen 16 hours^(a) Tetanus 5.71^(b) SCPA49S512A 2.27 SCPA1S512A 1.60 ^(a)The time at which NT was taken following intranasal infection of mice. ^(b)Values are log values.

The number of streptococci associated with nasal tissue decreased with time, as expected and the decrease was more rapid and complete in mice immunized with SCPA antigen. All groups of mice that had been immunized with SCPA retained fewer streptococci than control mice. In this experiment immunization with SCPA1S512A was most effective and induced a cross-protective response, since the challenge strain CS101 is OF⁺ M49 and the source of vaccine protein SCPA1S512A from an OF⁻ M1 strain. These results confirm that a single SCPA antigen can induce protection against heterologous serotypes. Protection is afforded by antibody that neutralizes peptidase activity on the bacterial surface. This increases the influx of phagocytes within a few hours from the time streptococci are deposited on mucosal tissue. Rapid clearance of streptococci by phagocytes is presumed to prevent subsequent multiplication and persistence of the bacteria. Mice uniformly had serum IgG titers of 1:32,000 or greater when assayed by ELISA, indicating that SQ injection of SCPA antigen with adjuvant consistently induced a vigorous antibody response.

EXAMPLE 9 C5a Peptidase from Group B Streptococci is Nearly Identical in Sequence to Those from M12 and M49 Group A Streptococci

The group B streptococci C5a peptidase (SCPB) gene was cloned, sequenced and compared to that from serotype group A streptococci M12 and M49. The entire scpB gene was amplified by PCR using primers which correspond to portions of the scpA12 sequence using the method described above. The SCPB gene encodes an open reading frame (ORF) of 3450 bp which specifies a protein of 1150 amino acids with Mr of 126,237 da. The amino acid sequence of SCPB is shown in FIG. 2. Comparison of the scpB nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequence to those from M12 and M49 group A streptococci showed high similarities, 98% and 97%, respectively. ScpB contained a 50 bp deletion which overlapped two of the C-terminal repeats, and had several other minor differences relative to scpA genes. Alignment of the sequences showed that scpA12 is actually phylogenetically closer to scpB than it is to scpA49. Thirty strains, representing serotypes III, III/R, II, Ia/c, NT/c, NT/c/R1 carry a copy of scpB.

Recombinant SCP was expressed in E. coli using expression vector plasmid pGEX-4T-1 (ATCC accession number 98225) and was shown to be identical to the enzyme extracted from the parental group B streptococcal strain 78-471 (Type II a+b). Western blot analysis suggested the recombinant SCP is identical to the C5ase enzyme previously purified from group B streptococci.

All publications, patents and patent documents are incorporated by reference herein, as though individually incorporated by reference. The invention has been described with reference to various specific and preferred embodiments and techniques. However, it should be understood that many variations and modifications may be made while remaining within the scope of the invention. 

1. A composition comprising an isolated enzymatically inactive streptococcal C5a peptidase (SCP) conjugated or linked to a polysaccharide, wherein the SCP comprises the specificity crevice or catalytic domain of SCP.
 2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the polysaccharide is a group A streptococcal polysaccharide, a C-polysaccharide from group B Streptococci, or a capsular polysaccharide of S. pneumoniae or group B Streptococci.
 3. The composition of claim 1, wherein the polysaccharide is a polysaccharide of a pathogen.
 4. The composition of claim 1, wherein the polysaccharide is a Streptococcus pneumoniae capsular polysaccharide.
 5. The composition of claim 1, wherein the SCP comprises the catalytic domain of SCP.
 6. The composition of claim 5, wherein the SCP further comprises the region of SCP between the catalytic domain and cell wall insert.
 7. The composition of claim 1, wherein the SCP comprises the specificity crevice.
 8. The composition of claim 1, wherein the SCP does not contain the SCP signal sequence of said SCP.
 9. The composition of claim 1, wherein the SCP does not contain the SCP cell wall insert of said SCP.
 10. The composition of claim 1, wherein the SCP has a modification at one or more of its amino acid residues 260, 261, 262, 415, 416, 417, 130, 193, 295 or
 512. 